The important Fishing and Angling Exhibition was held on 13 October 2004 in the Hall of Memories at the South End Museum. This is a significant exhibition because the fishing and angling industry was such an important support for the South End and, indeed, Port Elizabeth population. When the Khoi first settled along the coast of this town, they survived mainly off fish caught and eaten. The South African coloured population hailed largely from this Khoi community and carried on many of the industries and traditions instituted by their forefathers.

The Malay population also moved closer to the foreshore of South End in the late 1800’s. With this community came many fishing and angling clubs. Because the Malays had come from across the Baakens River, South End became affectionately known as “oorkant die mond”, Afrikaans for “over the mouth”, referring to the Baakens River mouth. This name stuck right up until the late 1930’s.

Because of the proximity of the ocean to South End and North End, and because of the fishing and angling skills that had been passed down from generation to generation, this industry became a major source of income to the community. The South End community, in particular, also enjoyed a good relationship with the seamen who would come to our shores to indulge in the rich offering of fish available.

But, fishing was more than an industry to these communities, it also became recreation. The first angling club in South End was called the Dom Pedro Angling Club, which had its own jetty. Regular competitions were held amongst the members of this club until other clubs formed, which allowed them to compete club to club rather than individually. These other clubs included the Birch Rock and Surf, Marine Rock and Surf, Bayonians, Marlin and Windsor.

Eventually, in 1951, the Eastern Province Angling Association was formed and the founding members include well-known South End names such as Omar Cassem, Braima Kafaar and Ismail Nordien. Raymond Uren was also at the forefront of the fight for equality and justice during the Apartheid regime, and he was privileged to welcome all of the visitors to this exhibition. Errol Heynes, whose father also played a major role in the fight for racial equality, acted as the Master of Ceremonies, and “Fishy Tales” were related by Cato Bailey and Salie Abrahams. Lionel Bruinders bid all in attendance a special thank you.